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Callisto could no longer remember a time before the woods.
And, some days, they thought it was better like that. All they knew was Leshy, the routine he'd made for them, the life he'd built for them. Some days it was easy to forget, to ignore that there was a time before the woods.
Callisto had become resigned to their fate, accepting the role they'd been assigned. His wife. Days like today, though, Callisto would remember more than they would like.
Leshy comes to wake them for breakfast, surprised to see they're wide awake, sitting on the edge of the bed, holding the blankets taught in a white-knuckled grip. They looked cognizant. Leshy took a cautious step forward, worried any sudden move and they may try and hurt themself. Or him.
"Leshy," They call, tired, defeated. They look up to meet his soft gaze, tears building in their eyes. "Do you believe in the idea of fate, past lives…" They pause briefly, voice trembling. "… Soulmates?" They ask, looking away from Leshy now.
The man is silent for a moment. It's not a question he expected. He watched them fidget uncomfortably under his watch. The tone in their voice was a far cry from the Callisto he'd once known, so many years ago. His friend. Why did that have to change? Why had it mattered so much to him, what label they used?
"Of course, it is what brought us together." He finally answers, sighing, taking a seat next to his… Friend.
Callisto looks up to him once more.
"Are we destined to hurt each other every time?" They ask, their voice shaking. Leshy's eyes widen. He's… he's hurting Callisto. He's been hurting Callisto. For so long. He always knew that, but to hear them this broken… It finally registered to him. He could finally see it. All of their pain. Pain that he had caused.
He stammers to respond. He wants to say, 'No, we can stop this.', but the words die on his tongue. He shuts his mouth, speechless for once.
"I don't want to do this forever." Callisto finally cracks, and it's the most vulnerable they've been in years. "We just burn each other…" They whimper.
Leshy wants to hold them close, to let them cry on his shoulder as he'd let them do many, many times before this, but he knew better. It would only hurt them like this. He keeps his hands to himself.
"I… I don't know why I did all of this." Leshy finally manages, voice cracking. "I wanted you to stay, and in doing so, I've only pushed you away. You may be with me physically, but mentally, you're… Somewhere else." His voice shakes. He's not used to being so open.
Callisto seems just as surprised, but listens intently.
"I don't… I don't want to be alone, Callisto." He sighs, digging his claws into his thighs. "I don't want to lose the only true friend I've had." He cringes at the sentiment, before clearing his throat. "But… I see now, my obsession, my possessiveness… It is only harming you." He lets go.
Tears cloud his vision, but Callisto remains clear as day next to him.
"I want to be your friend." Callisto starts softly, reaching out to place a hand on Leshy's shoulder. Leshy startles at the contact, but he doesn't fight it. He doesn't try to reciprocate it, either, too scared to push the boundary, the tentative trust. "I've always wanted to be just… your friend." They reinforce, seeming to gain more confidence in their words.
Leshy is silent, afraid to mess up, to hurt them further. Oh, but the declaration… He misses being just friends. Why did it ever have to turn into this?
"I'm sorry," He utters, tears beginning to overflow. He doesn't want to make this about him, but all he can do is cry. "I'm so sorry, friend." He covers his mouth, trying to control his weeping. Callisto frowns, not of anger or disdain, but concern. They pull him into an embrace, the first real embrace they'd had in years. And he cried.
The two sat there in a tight embrace, crying out silent apologies to one another. Leshy hadn't let himself cry like this in many millennia, and it… hurt. He dug his claws into his arms, trying not to return Callisto's embrace, in fear he'd hold on too tight, sink his claws in and never let them go.
Callisto held their friend close to their chest, crying like a little kid. They were tired, all they wanted was to go back to how things were, as naive and childish as that was. They just cried and cried.
After some time, the two pulled apart, still teary-eyed, still hurting, but with a better understanding of the other and their situation. Leshy wiped his tears away, looking down at his friend. Callisto's cheeks were flush and puffy from all the crying.
They spoke first, in the end.
"I don't want to stay here." They speak, firm, but gentle. Leshy doesn't hesitate. He nods, standing briefly to retrieve Callisto's key from his safe. He kneels down, unlocking the shackle binding them to the bed. Callisto offers Leshy a bittersweet smile.
"I'll miss you." Leshy speaks first, but he doesn't try to keep them.
"I know. I will too." Callisto responds softly, pulling him into a tight embrace. Possibly the last one they'll share for some time.
When Callisto pulls away, Leshy feels himself crying again.
"Will I ever see you again?" He asks, stepping to the side to allow Callisto to stand from the bed. They take a shaky step forward, before stabilizing. They think on it for a moment.
"I think so," They nod eventually, looking back to him. The spark hasn't quite returned to their eyes, and they're still tired, but there's a newfound hope in the way they look at him. "Will you walk with me to the bridge?" They ask, voice cracking. Callisto extends their hand.
Leshy takes it without hesitation, and the two walk out of the cabin, through the woods, to the bridge, leading to the other islands and beyond. Callisto's way home.